Then Jehoshaphat was afraid and set his face to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.
We left Jehoshaphat, in the foregoing chapter, well employed in reforming his kingdom and providing for the due administration of justice and support of religion in it, and expected nothing but to hear of the peace and prosperity of his reign; but here we have him in distress, which distress, however, was followed by such a glorious deliverance as was an abundant recompence for his piety.
Commenting on 2 Chronicles 20:1-13
And Jehoshaphat feared,.... Exceedingly, as the Targum adds, not merely because of the number of his enemies, for he had forces enough to go forth against them, see Ch2 17:14, but chiefly because the Lord had told him that wrath was upon him from him, Ch2 19:2 and he might fear that this was the time for the execution of it: and set himself to...
Jehoshaphat . . . proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah--Alarmed by the intelligence and conscious of his total inability to repel this host of invaders, Jehoshaphat felt his only refuge was at the horns of the altar. He resolved to employ the aid of his God, and, in conformity with this resolution, he summoned all his subjects to observe a solemn fast at the sanctuary.